pgw.piccadillyjim-第40节

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on。
　〃And　what　the　devil　do　you　want　with　Miss　Chester；　you　slimy；　crawling　second…story…worker；　you　damned；　oily　yegg？〃　enquired　Jimmy。
　The　sunniest　optimist　could　not　have　deluded　himself　into　the　belief　that　the　words　were　spoken　in　a　friendly　and　genial　spirit。　Lord　Wisbeach's　fingers　tightened　on　the　door…handle；　and　he　grew　a　little　flushed　about　the　cheek…bones。
　〃What's　all　this　about？〃　he　said。
　〃You　infernal　crook！　〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　looked　anxious。
　〃Don't　shout　like　that！　Are　you　crazy？　Do　you　want　people　to　hear？〃
　Jimmy　drew　a　deep　breath。
　〃I　shall　have　to　get　further　away　from　you；〃　he　said　more　quietly。　〃There's　no　knowing　what　may　happen　if　I　don't。　I　don't　want　to　kill　you。　At　least；　I　do；　but　I　had　better　not。〃
　He　retired　slowly　until　brought　to　a　halt　by　the　writing…desk。　To　this　he　anchored　himself　with　a　firm　grip。　He　was　extremely　anxious　to　do　nothing　rash；　and　the　spectacle　of　Gentleman　Jack　invited　rashness。　He　leaned　against　the　desk；　clutching　its　solidity　with　both　hands。　Lord　Wisbeach　held　steadfastly　to　the　door…handle。　And　in　this　tense　fashion　the　interview　proceeded。
　〃Miss　Chester；〃　said　Jimmy；　forcing　himself　to　speak　calmly；　〃has　just　been　telling　me　that　she　has　promised　to　marry　you。〃
　〃Quite　true；〃　said　Lord　Wisbeach。　〃It　will　be　announced　to…morrow。〃　A　remark　trembled　on　his　lips；　to　the　effect　that　he　relied　on　Jimmy　for　a　fish…slice；　but　prudence　kept　it　unspoken。　He　was　unable　at　present　to　understand　Jimmy's　emotion。　Why　Jimmy　should　object　to　his　being　engaged　to　Ann；　he　could　not　imagine。　But　it　was　plain　that　for　some　reason　he　had　taken　the　thing　to　heart；　and；　dearly　as　he　loved　a　bit　of　quiet　fun；　Lord　Wisbeach　decided　that　the　other　was　at　least　six　inches　too　tall　and　fifty　pounds　too　heavy　to　be　bantered　in　his　present　mood　by　one　of　his　own　physique。　〃Why　not？〃
　〃It　won't　be　announced　to…morrow；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Because　by　to…morrow　you　will　be　as　far　away　from　here　as　you　can　get；　if　you　have　any　sense。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Just　this。　If　you　haven't　left　this　house　by　breakfast　time　to…morrow；　I　shall　expose　you。〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　was　not　feeling　particularly　happy；　but　he　laughed　at　this。
　〃You！〃
　〃That's　what　I　said。〃
　〃Who　do　you　think　you　are；　to　go　about　exposing　people？〃
　〃I　happen　to　be　Mrs。　Pett's　nephew；　Jimmy　Crocker。〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　laughed　again。
　〃Is　that　the　line　you　are　going　to　take？〃
　〃It　is。〃
　〃You　are　going　to　Mrs。　Pett　to　tell　her　that　you　are　Jimmy　Crocker　and　that　I　am　a　crook　and　that　you　only　pretended　to　recognise　me　for　reasons　of　your　own？〃
　〃Just　that。〃
　〃Forget　it！〃　Lord　Wisbeach　had　forgotten　to　be　alarmed　in　his　amusement。　He　smiled　broadly。　〃I'm　not　saying　it's　not　good　stuff　to　pull；　but　it's　old　stuff　now。　I'm　sorry　for　you；　but　I　thought　of　it　before　you　did。　I　went　to　Mrs。　Pett　directly　after　lunch　and　sprang　that　line　of　talk　myself。　Do　you　think　she'll　believe　you　after　that？　I　tell　you　I'm　ace…high　with　that　dame。　You　can't　queer　me　with　her。〃
　〃I　think　I　can。　For　the　simple　reason　that　I　really　am　Jimmy　Crocker。〃
　〃Yes；　you　are。〃
　〃Exactly。　Yes；　I　am。〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　smiled　tolerantly。
　〃It　was　worth　trying　the　bluff；　I　guess；　but　it　won't　work。　I　know　you'd　be　glad　to　get　me　out　of　this　house；　but　you've　got　to　make　a　better　play　than　that　to　do　it。〃
　〃Don't　deceive　yourself　with　the　idea　that　I'm　bluffing。　Look　here。〃　He　suddenly　removed　his　coat　and　threw　it　to　Lord　Wisbeach。　〃Read　the　tailor's　label　inside　the　pocket。　See　the　name。　Also　the　address。　'J。　Crocker。　Drexdale　House。　Grosvenor　Square。　London。'〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　picked　up　the　garment　and　looked　as　directed。　His　face　turned　a　little　sallower；　but　he　still　fought　against　his　growing　conviction。
　〃That's　no　proof。〃
　〃Perhaps　not。　But；　when　you　consider　the　reputation　of　the　tailor　whose　name　is　on　the　label；　it's　hardly　likely　that　he　would　be　standing　in　with　an　impostor；　is　it？　If　you　want　real　proof；　I　have　no　doubt　that　there　are　half　a　dozen　men　working　on　the　Chronicle　who　can　identify　me。　Or　are　you　convinced　already？〃
　Lord　Wisbeach　capitulated。
　〃I　don't　know　what　fool　game　you　think　you're　playing；　but　I　can't　see　why　you　couldn't　have　told　me　this　when　we　were　talking　after　lunch。〃
　〃Never　mind。　I　had　my　reasons。　They　don't　matter。　What　matters　is　that　you　are　going　to　get　out　of　here　to…morrow。　Do　you　understand　that？〃
　〃I　get　you。〃
　〃Then　that's　about　all；　I　think。　Don't　let　me　keep　you。〃
　〃Say；　listen。〃　Gentleman　Jack's　voice　was　plaintive。　〃I　think　you　might　give　a　fellow　a　chance　to　get　out　good。　Give　me　time　to　have　a　guy　in　Montreal　send　me　a　telegram　telling　me　to　go　up　there　right　away。　Otherwise　you　might　just　as　well　put　the　cops　on　me　at　once。　The　old　lady　knows　I've　got　business　in　Canada。　You　don't　need　to　be　rough　on　a　fellow。〃
　Jimmy　pondered　this　point。
　〃All　right。　I　don't　object　to　that。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Don't　start　anything；　though。〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃
　Jimmy　pointed　to　the　safe。
　〃e；　e；　friend　of　my　youth。　We　have　no　secrets　from　each　other。　I　know　you're　after　what's　in　there；　and　you　know　that　I　know。　I　don't　want　to　harp　on　it；　but　you'll　be　spending　to…night　in　the　house；　and　I　think　you　had　better　make　up　your　mind　to　spend　it　in　your　room；　getting　a　nice　sleep　to　prepare　you　for　your　journey。　Do　you　follow　me；　old　friend？〃
　〃I　get　you。〃
　〃That　will　be　all　then；　I　think。　Wind　a　smile　around　your　neck　and　recede。〃
　The　door　slammed。　Lord　Wisbeach　had　restrained　his　feelings　successfully　during　the　interview；　but　he　could　not　deny　himself　that　slight　expression　of　them。　Jimmy　crossed　the　room　and　took　his　coat　from　the　chair　where　the　other　had　dropped　it。　As　he　did　so　a　voice　spoke。
　〃Say！〃
　Jimmy　spun　round。　The　room　was　apparently　empty。　The　thing　was　beginning　to　assume　an　uncanny　aspect；　when　the　voice　spoke　again。
　〃You　think　you're　darned　funny；　don't　you？〃
　It　came　from　above。　Jimmy　had　forgotten　the　gallery。　He　directed　his　gaze　thither；　and　perceived　the　heavy　face　of　Ogden　hanging　over　the　rail　like　a　gargoyle。
　〃What　are　you　doing　there？〃　he　demanded。
　〃Listening。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　there？〃
　〃There's　a　door　back　here　that　you　get　to　from　the　stairs。　I　often　e　here　for　a　quiet　cigarette。　Say；　you　think　yourself　some　josher；　don't　you；　telling　me　you　were　a　kidnapper！　You　strung　me　like　an　onion。　So　you're　really　Jimmy　Crocker　after　all？　Where　was　the　sense　in　pulling　all　that　stuff　about　taking　me　away　and　divvying　up　the　ransom？　Aw；　you　make　me　tired！〃
　The　head　was　withdrawn；　and　Jimmy　heard　heavy　steps　followed　by　the　banging　of　a　door。　Peace　reigned　in　the　library。
　Jimmy　sat　down　in　the　chair　which　was　Mr。　Pett's　favourite　and　which　Ogden　was　accustomed　to　occupy　to　that　gentleman's　displeasure。　The　swiftness　of　recent　events　had　left　him　a　little　dizzy；　and　he　desired　to　think　matters　over　and　find　out　exactly　what　had　happened。
　The　only　point　which　appeared　absolutely　clear　to　him　in　a　welter　of　confusing　occurrences　was　the　fact　that　he　had　lost　the　chance　of　kidnapping　Ogden。　Everything　had　arranged　itself　so　beautifully　simply　and　conveniently　as　regarded　that　venture　until　a　moment　ago；　but　now　that　the　boy　had　discovered　his　identity　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　attempt　it。　He　was　loth　to　accept　this　fact。　Surely；　even　now；　there　was　a　way　。　。　。
　Quite　suddenly　an　admirable　plan　occurred　to　him。　It　involved　the　co…operation　of　his　father。　And　at　that　thought　he　realised　with　a　start　that　life　had　been　moving　so　rapidly　for　him　since　his　return　to　the　house　that　he　had　not　paid　any　attention　at　all　to　what　was　really　as　amazing　a　mystery　as　any。　He　had　been　too　busy　to　wonder　why　his　father　was　there。
　He　debated　the　best　method　of　getting　in　touch　with　him。　It　was　out　of　the　question　to　descend　to　the　pantry　or　wherever　it　was　that　his　father　lived　in　this　new　incarnation　of　his。　Then　the　happy　thought　struck　him　that　results　might　be　obtained　by　the　simple　process　of　ringing　the　bell。　It　might　produce　some　other　unit　of　the　domestic　staff。　However；　it　was　worth　trying。　He　rang　the　bell。
　A　few　moments　later　the　door　opened。　Jimmy　looked　up。　It　was　not　his　father。　It　was　a　dangerous…looking　female　of　uncertain　age；　dressed　as　a　parlour…maid；　who　eyed　him　with　what　seemed　to　his　conscience…stricken　soul　dislike　and　suspicion。　She　had　a　tight…lipped　mouth　and　beady　eyes　beneath　heavy　brows。　Jimmy　had　seldom　seen　a　woman　who　attracted　him　less　at　first　sight。
　〃Jer　ring；　S'？〃
　Jimmy　blinked　and　almost　ducked。　The　words　had　e　at　him　like　a　projectile。
　〃Oh；　ah；　yes。〃
　〃J'　want　anything；　s'？〃
　With　an　effort　Jimmy　induced　his　mind　to　resume　its　interrupted　equilibrium。
　〃Oh；　ah；　yes。　Would　you　mind　sending　Skinner　the　butler　to　me。〃
　〃Y's'r。〃
　The　apparition　vanished。　Jimmy　drew　out　his　handkerchief　and　dabbed　at　his　forehead。　He　felt　weak　and　guilty。　He　felt　as　if　he　had　just　been　accused　of　nameless　crimes　and　had　been　unable　to　deny　the　charge。　Such　was　the　magic　of　Miss　Trimble's　eyethe　left　one；　which　looked　directly　at　its　object。　Conjecture　pauses　baffled　at　the　thought　of　the　effect　which　her　gaze　might　have　created　in　the　breasts　of　the　sex　she　despised；　had　it　been　double　i